Ways to Generate Leads

Lead generation isn’t always done online. The real world methods for gathering leads are also very effective way to get people interested in your business. In fact, there are several ways you can make those valuable connections without using the internet to capture them. Here’s how:

Go to Trade Shows and Conventions

Many people attend them. These events are focused on particular items or specific businesses, so these are a great way to connect with potential customers. The people who attend these functions are interested in your market, so it’s worth checking out a trade show. Offer incentives for leads. For instance, you can set up a giveaway that requires potential customers to write their email address or phone number on an entry in order to participate.

Hold a Class or Event

Perhaps you could host a class to get people more interested in your products or services? A good example of this would be a cooking class taught by someone who sells either the ingredients used or the pots and pans or a line of kitchen tools and accessories. If you offer the event for free, more people will sign up. How do you make that pay off? You can require their contact information in order for them to attend. Lead generated!

Give Away a Book

People often use book offers where potential customers only pay shipping in order to receive a physical book. The online version of this is to give away a PDF. Surprisingly, many people are even more likely to provide their contact information for an actual book. You’ll get their email, phone number, and address so you can send the book to them. One note, though: don’t forget to include a disclaimer letting them know that you will be contacting them in the future to share more updates and relevant information for your product or service.

Take a Real Life Survey

People tend to enjoy answering questions about themselves, and for that reason, a real world survey can be a great lead generation tool. Choose an area where your target market hangs out and design a survey to get more information. Find out interesting things about people and then you will learn how to better serve then. That will result in more word-of-mouth advertising. Use the information you collect to create a more useful product or service.

Offer More Information

Whether you are launching a new product or just trying to promote an existing one, get people to give you their information so you can contact them in the future. If they want more information on what you have to offer or to get regular updates, they can give you an email or phone number. Try this method at fairs, trade shows, and conventions, where a highly interested audience will be attending. These are the ones who will be most interested in signing up for more information.

Use Print Advertising

Print ads are not for everyone, but it can be an effective method of lead generation if you have the budget. While certainly not cheap, print ads can be an effective real world method of gaining leads. Use a strong call to action to get those leads. If you are on a small budget, try local publications first. For physical businesses with a brick and mortar location, a billboard can also be a worthwhile investment, depending on the prices in your area.

Just Ask

Networking is something we all do constantly. You meet people on a regular basis, so why not talk about what you do for a living? That can easily turn into a real world lead generation opportunity. The simplest way to get those leads is to ask if you can contact them with further information. Keep a notepad on you to write down their contact information and then make sure you send them a message right away. Or better yet, add the lead right away using your RUN mobile or web app. Wait any longer than 24 hours, and they could forget that they asked you for more information.

Nearly everything you’ll read on lead generation is focused on online options. Collecting leads on your website or blog is easy enough with an opt-in box, but don’t discount the value of manually collected leads, too! These can be some of the most responsive customers you have, when all is said and done. By the way, if you are not yet managing your leads in an instant, join us at Rank Up Now.